Potato planting dates

At usual odds in 2026: Apr 20 – Jul 3.

The guide's rule 1 week before last frost to 17 weeks before first frost.

Frost odds · chance of a freezing night after your spring date

The 2026 season

Plant out / sow Frost risk

At all three odds

Frost odds	Plant / sow
Bold (1 in 2)	Apr 13 – Jul 7
Usual (3 in 10)	Apr 20 – Jul 3
Careful (1 in 10)	Apr 28 – Jun 24

Days to first harvest: 80-140 from seed pieces
How it goes in: Plant seed pieces outdoors
Frost: Tops tender Vines are tender; the tubers are hardy.
Soil to germinate: 60-65°F

Plan it in your Garden Book

The book checks your date against the window and tells you when the first harvest could come.

Plus Free Garden Books hold 8 plantings a season; Seed Clock Plus holds 120: $1.95/month or $19.50/year. Free during preview What Plus adds

Source: Montana State University Extension, MontGuide MT199308AG, "Can I Grow That Here? Vegetable Seed and Transplant Schedules for Garden or Container" (reviewed August 2013), read with NOAA 1991-2020 freeze odds for Cleveland Hopkins. Wording ours; how we read the guide.